Characterisation, especially by Letters 549 



surname; call this group A. Another sort me fa fa and me fa bro bears the mother of the writer's 

 maiden surname ; call this group B. The other two sorts bear different names ; call them G and D. 

 Then the numbers recorded are in this proportion: A 1 : B i : C \ : D \, showing how largely 

 family recollections stick to the family surname. It all comes out very sharp and clear and 

 consistently. The male first cousins follow the same rule, but less emphatically. I had somewhat 

 tired myself about the book, but am quite rested and well now. I wish Bessy was more free 

 from her rheumatism, etc. She seems at present to be quite confined to her sofa, but writes as 

 cheerfully as ever. Frank Butler came here yesterday evening for two nights, quite well and not 

 apparently overwhelmed by his three little daughters. I begin to count the days that remain to 

 us here. We have to go on next Thursday week. There are very nice people and not 

 a few old friends within pony-trap distance. I called on one, Mrs Archibald Smith, the 

 mathematician's widow, whom I had not seen for many years. Her hall was hung : " 

 round with African trophies. There was a beautifully strong and light iron chain with v-n 

 loops in it, which I thought was some kind of chain ladder, the loops being for the feet. " ; 

 But it was a slave cfiain. A gang of slaves was found by her son, the men were released \ 

 and the chain kept. The loops went round their necks. Another thing was what looked O 

 like a big firescreen, with black leathern drapery. It was made of the two ears of an } 

 elephant. 



Enclosed is some tin-foil. I had an amusing hunt after it in London and learnt much. It 

 is only made at two or three factories, partly for druggists, partly for wine merchants to cover 

 their bottle-mouths. Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. September 25, 1905. 

 (This will be my address now.) 



My dear Bessy, You are a "bonne icrevisse" in the sense the gentleman meant. One never 

 gets the big crayfish to eat in London, hut I see them in shop windows. They are the most 

 di\ -ine-right-of-King sort of fish. The biggest one in an aquarium sits as it were on a throne 

 and the others gather round like courtiers in the most comically humble positions. I know they 

 are v'ood eating and must get one when we return. We pack up to-morrow and leave here on 

 Wednesday, but not direct to London, which we reach on Saturday evening. We are sorry to 

 go, but have a store of pleasant things to recollect. Evelyn Cunliffe* was to come to tea to-day, 

 but it rains and we hardly expect her, it is a long drive. It gets cold too at nights. I have 

 started winter underclothing to-day, and wanted it. I shall be interested to hear Edward's 

 report of Erasmus. It seems so dreary for him to be practically alone in that wooden hut, but 

 he has friends near and likes it. 



Thank you for Miss Johnstone's address; I will write soon to her. All my things are in 

 arrear now, that blessed book has thrown them all behind. A packet with the MS. of it, addressed 

 to the publisher, is at this moment lying on the table by my side. It will go off by the same 

 post as this. 



What a disagreeable intruder upon her finger Gussyt seems to have had. Suppose it had 

 come suddenly beyond her rings ! There is some Arabian Night, or the like, story of a man who 

 has a ring of mystic power, about which he knows nothing and is on the point of selling it to 

 a wicked magician, when his guardian fairy takes the form of a wasp and stings the finger, which 

 swells, so the ring cannot be removed. I wish some fairy would give me abetter pen than this 

 to write with. It scratches like a needle. Best loves. Ever affectionately, Francis Galton. 



42, Rutland Gate, S.W. September 27, 1905. 

 (This will be my address now.) 

 Dearest Milly, The convicts must have been depressing. They are not however so home- 

 less when set free, as big societies work in unison with Government to take care of them. But 

 a broken-kneed horse and an ex-criminal are not favoured. It is all very sad. Government can't 

 sit up a factor}', for all the trade unions are up in arms against competition by state-aided 

 workers. We pack up to-morrow and leave on Wednesday, not directly for home but for three 

 nights with friends near, and return to Rutland Gate on Saturday. It was amusing about your 



* Sir Douglas Galton's elder daughter. 



•f Second wife of Herman Ernest Galton, Francis Galton's cousin: see our Vol. I, Pedigree 

 Plate A. 



